Global Newsletter

May 9, 2023 | Global, Immigration Updates

In this look around the globe, find the latest immigration news regarding Australia’s Temporary Salary Migration Income Threshold , Canada’s federal worker’s strike, the Hague Convention on Apostilles and much more!

But first, we start with this month’s WReview.

WReview: WR Immigration at EuRA

The WR Immigration team recently attended the European Relocation Association (EuRA) conference in Dublin, Ireland.

Highlights included:

  • Hearing both Simon Coveney, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment and Neale Richmond, Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment speak about Ireland’s history as a country of emigration and current place as a hot destination for employment-based immigration.
  • Our Managing Partner of WR Global, Audrey Lustgarten, speaking on the Immigration – The Voice of the Experts panel.
  • Meeting with dozens of our colleagues and clients from Europe and beyond.
  • Continuing the theme of reaching across cultures during our down time by sharing a delicious, spicy Sichuan meal with colleagues from Singapore in the heart of Dublin.

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Australia: Temporary Salary Migration Income Threshold Increased

The government will increase the Temporary Salary Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT) from AUD 53,900 to AUD 70,000 for all new subclass 482 work visa applications filed from July 1, 2023 onwards. The market salary for the occupation a foreign national will be offered must be greater than the TSMIT. If the market salary for the occupation is lower than the TSMIT, it is not possible to sponsor a foreign worker for a subclass 482 work visa for the role. Note that if the market salary for an occupation is higher than the TSMIT then the foreign worker must be paid more than the TSMIT. This change in the income threshold will decrease the number of occupations in which it is possible for employers to sponsor foreign workers.

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Canada: Federal Worker Strike Ends

A deal has been reached to end the federal worker strike that began on April 19. Workers have returned to their jobs as of May 1. The strike impacted processing of a number of types of Canadian immigration applications but given the relatively short duration we are optimistic that the long-term impact to processing times will be minimal.

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China: Hague Convention on Apostilles

China has finally agreed to join the Hague Convention on Apostilles. This means that supporting documents required for visa and residence permit applications, such as marriage certificates and diplomas, will now be able to be apostilled in a single step rather than going through a multi-step legalization process to be considered valid for use in China. China’s accession to the treaty is expected to be effective as of November 7, 2023.

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Portugal: Golden Visa Investment Program to Close

Portugal is expected to close its Golden Visa investment program as of mid to late June, so the window of time during which to apply is rapidly closing. In good news, the government has scrapped an initial closure law that would have retroactively cancelled applications in process and impacted those already holding Golden Visas.

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Related Posts:

OFLC Posts ‘Unofficial’ Form ETA-9089 Preview Copy

After the Department of Labor’s Office of Foreign Labor Certification (OFLC) announced on April 21, 2023, that it will begin accepting the revised Form ETA-9089, Application for Permanent Employment Certification, in the Foreign Labor Application Gateway (FLAG) system on May 16, 2023, OFLC posted an “unofficial watermarked preview copy” of the form “to allow stakeholders to become familiar with changes to the form.”  OFLC will no longer accept any new applications submitted via the legacy PERM Online System after May 15, 2023, at 6:59 pm ET. OFLC also will no longer accept the previous version of Form ETA-9089 after May 15, 2023, either electronically or by mail.  OFLC said that the preview copy of the form and appendices are for informational purposes only. “These versions of the form and appendices may not be submitted to OFLC at any time; any submission to OFLC using these forms will be rejected.” OFLC said it will post on its Forms page (https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/foreign-labor/forms) the official, fillable PDF versions of the Form ETA-9089 and its appendices on May 16, 2023.  Details: 

Global Newsletter

In this inaugural edition, find the latest global news on China easing travel restrictions as other countries impose COVID testing on travelers from China, a reminder that Canada now requires employment contracts and notification of rights for foreign workers, an expansion of the Schengen area, and more. China Finally Easing Travel Restrictions as Other Countries Impose COVID Testing on Travelers from China China has finally done away with the requirement that travelers have a PU letter approval from China before being able to request a visa, and has also removed the quarantine requirement for incoming travelers from 9 January 2023. However, as COVID cases in China surge, many countries including the US, UK, Spain, France, Italy, Japan and South Korea, are now temporarily requiring negative COVID tests for travelers from China. Back to Top Reminder: Canada Now Requiring Employment Contracts and Notification of Rights for Foreign Workers Significant amendments to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act have impacted ongoing compliance requirements for companies in Canada that employ foreign workers. Although these amendments entered into force in September 2022, we have found that many employers are not aware of the new requirements, so it is important to highlight them as companies […]